Journal of Applied Science & Process Engineering

Investigation of Water-Soluble Preservatives in Frequently Used Energy-Stimulating Herbal Drugs in Rajshahi City, Bangladesh

2024-05-01T12:24:23+00:00

The prevalence of erectile dysfunction is on the rise. Patients are turning to herbal drugs as an alternative to allopathic therapy or are drawn towards natural alternatives. However, there are concerns about the safety of these medications. An effort was made to determine the level of two commonly used water-soluble preservatives, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate in 54 finished energy-stimulating herbal preparations. Maceration-assisted UV- Vis spectrometry was adopted for determining the analytes in bulk and finished formulations. Concern about harmful effects on human health has been raised after 5% of samples were found to be risky for oral ingestion of sodium benzoate. If ingested exceeding the prescribed daily dose, the high concentration of potassium sorbate in some formulations raises concerns regarding daily consumption. To assess the preservative levels in herbal medicines, more laboratory-based studies are required.

A Study of Correlative Modeling on Viscosity for Some Organic Binary Liquid Systems

2024-04-30T12:24:20+00:00

In order to systematically investigate the correlating capability of viscosity models, six well-known correlative models of Grunberg-Nissan (GN), Hind (HND), Heric (HRC), Ausländer (AUS) for dynamic viscosity, η, and McAllister 3-body (MAC3) and McAllister 4-body (MAC4) for kinematic viscosity, ν, were employed and tested for viscosity data of 83 organic binary liquid systems consisting of 33 different aromatic hydrocarbons (ArH), alkanes (RH), cycloalkanes (CyRH) and alkanols (ROH). Keeping ArH as a common component and increasing the chain length of other components, the systems were categorized as Category 1: ArH + RH, Category 2: ArH + CyRH, Category 3: ArH + ArH and Category 4: ArH + ROH. For all the models fitting parameters along with the statistical parameters such as SPD σ(%), ASPD σ(%), OASPD σ(%) and GOASPD σ(%) were computed by the Nonlinear Least Squares Minimization (NLSM) technique with the ‘Solver’ add-in package. Among the four categories, Category 3, OASPD, σ(%) values lie between 0.16 and 0.21, indicating that all the models fitted extremely well. However, for dynamic viscosities, the η AUS model demonstrated the best correlating capabilities with GOASPD σ(%) of 0.48, while the HND model performed the poorest with GOASPD σ(%) at 3.8. For the kinematic viscosities, ν in both the MAC3 and MAC4 models yielded satisfactory results with GOASPD σ(%) as < 1.0 %.

Prospect of Biodiesel from Sludge Palm Oil in Malaysia

2024-05-01T12:23:43+00:00

High feedstock costs make biodiesel production impractical and economically unfeasible, particularly as most feedstocks are unknown for performance. Waste oil, such as sludge palm oil (SPO), may be used to produce biodiesel. This study examined the efficiency and prospect of Sludge Palm Oil Biodiesel (SPOB) production from SPO through transesterification. One-step and two-step transesterification methods were performed for SPOB conversion. However, only a two-step method was effective in converting SPO into SPOB. SPO's high free fatty acid (FFA) content necessitated a two-step process to reduce FFAs to less than 4% before SPOB conversion. Step 1 yielded 78% SPOB at 2 hours, 0.03:1 acid catalyst–to–oil, and 8:1 alcohol–to–oil. The optimal SPOB yield for step 2 at 4 hours, 0.01:1 alkaline catalyst–to–oil, and 9:1 alcohol–to–oil was 78%. SPOB components were analyzed using FTIR with SPOB having a 1435.04 cm-1 methyl peak. The diesel engine performance test mixed SPOB with mineral diesel at different concentrations with 30% SPOB blends in mineral diesel offers the lowest fuel consumption (0.1089 ml/s), maximum braking horsepower (24.9266 rpm), and best mechanical efficiency. Density, flash point, and heating value were also tested to identify SPOB's physical characteristics and discussed in detail.

Bio-Interaction Mechanism of Occupational Extremely Low-Frequency Magnetic Field and its Potential Effects on Human

2024-05-01T12:24:02+00:00

Human lifestyle is evolving as a result of advancement in technology which is mainly driven by electricity. The presence of extremely low frequency magnetic field in the Earth’s atmosphere produced during the processes of generation, transmission and distribution of electricity in occupational environment has the ability to penetrate human skin, and is potentially hazardous to health of exposed individual, which have become a source of concern. This article presents state of knowledge on the electrical and dielectric properties of human tissues, examine the various phenomena processes during the bio-interaction mechanism, all-inclusive biological effects process explained and identify potential health risk associated with prolonged and excessive exposure to occupational magnetic field at extremely low frequency in addition to the underlining factors that influence the probable threats.

Effect of Varied Cure Temperature on the Cure Behavior, Mechanical Properties and Heat Build-Up of Solid Tire Tread Compound Containing Different Particles Sizes of Ground Tire Rubber

2024-05-01T12:23:22+00:00

This work investigates the effect of variation in vulcanization temperature on the cure behavior, tensile properties, tear strength, hardness, Akron abrasion loss and heat build-up of vulcanized tire tread compound in which the total rubber was replaced with 10% and 20% ground tire rubber (GTR) of 40, 60 and 80 mesh sizes. The first step was the characterization of the GTR using optical microscopy and a thermogravimetric analyzer. The first step of mixing each rubber compound was carried out using an internal mixer (Brabender) at 60°C and 40 rev/min rotor speed and the second step was done on a two-roll mill. The mooney viscosity of each rubber compound was investigated. the cure behavior of the rubber compounds was studied at 140°C, 150°C, and 160°C respectively. Results show that the introduction of GTR reduced vulcanization time, while increased cure temperature resulted in a lower vulcanization time. No significant difference was observed in the vulcanization time at a particular temperature of the rubber sample with different particle sizes and varied amounts of GTR. The introduction of ground tire rubber in the rubber vulcanizate however resulted in decreased tensile strength, tear strength and elongation, and increased hardness, abrasion resistance, modulus and heat build-up. An increase in the vulcanization temperature from 140°C to 150°C and 160°C did not impart a significant reduction in the tensile strength of the vulcanizates containing GTR. Vulcanization at higher temperatures resulted in reduced hardness, and modulus, slightly increased abrasion loss and increased elongation of the vulcanizates containing GTR. The heat build-up increased as the cure temperature increased. Generally, the control sample with no content of ground tire rubber exhibited the best properties. If GTR is to be introduced in rubber matrix at an amount up to 20%, the results suggest that 60 mesh size particles will impart better properties. The optimal vulcanization temperature recommended based on the findings from the work is 150°C.

Assessment of Ambient Water Quality Deterioration in Proximity to Municipal Solid Waste Dumpsites in Urban Areas of Chattogram, Bangladesh

2024-05-01T12:22:59+00:00

This study aims to assess the impact of waste dumping on groundwater quality within the Chattogram City Corporation area. Monitoring eight groundwater sampling points over four years, various physical and chemical parameters were analyzed, utilizing the APHA method. Parameters assessed include pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), salinity, biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), Turbidity, Total Hardness, Ca-Hardness, Alkalinity, TSS, Chloride, Phosphate, Sulphate, Nitrite, Nitrate, Fluoride, Iron, Arsenic, Zinc, Copper, and Chromium. The findings were compared to the Department of Environment's (DoE) recommended values, as well as the Bangladesh standard and World Health Organization (WHO) values. During sample collection, deep tube wells near the dumping site points were prioritized. According to the investigation CNB, Ananda Bazar Halishahar and Arefin Nagar, deep pump water carries too many irons in their groundwater. Iron levels exceed both WHO and Bangladesh standards across all samples. Specifically, Arefin Nagar and Ananda Bazar Halishahar area sampling points S6, S7, and S8 surpass standards in TDS, Total Hardness, Turbidity, TSS, Chloride, and Iron. Water Quality Index (WQI) calculations suggest unsuitability for drinking purposes in all sampled water, with S5 and S8 demonstrating particularly high values, indicating their unsuitability for human consumption. Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI) calculations reveal a decrease at CNB sampling points S1 and S2, where waste dumping ceased in 2017. However, HPI values at other points show an increasing trend, indicating the leaching of heavy metals from solid waste into groundwater. S5 and S8 exhibit notably high HPI values (Average 464.99 and 319.59), suggesting an accumulation of heavy metals in the groundwater. Carcinogenic Risk Analysis of Arsenic highlights the failure of most sampled water to meet Carcinogenic Risk (CR) standards, signalling a potential cancer risk with prolonged use of this water.